Mental Health Day Celebration Event 

Thank you to everyone who participated in today's Mental Health Day event.

The Incheon Metropolitan Government’s goal is to become "a world-class city with happy citizens." 

Therefore, it is natural for Incheon City to make the happiness of its citizens a top priority. 

Happiness can and should be the goal of every individual, society and country. 

After all, human beings exist on this planet to live happily.

But happiness has conditions. 

Three things: for the individual, health; for society, safety; and for a nation, security. 

Without these three things there can be no happiness.

Health and happiness is very important. 

South Korea has grown rapidly to become one of the top 20 economies in the world, 

and its military forces have become the sixth strongest in the world. 

However, when a UN-affiliated organization conducted a survey, 

it found that the happiness index of Koreans ranked 57th in the world.

Among the 38 countries that have joined the OECD, it ranked 35th, almost the lowest.

So if you look at our economic conditions, social environment, and national power, it's great, 

but the level of satisfaction we feel is very low. Therein lies the problem.

Of course, there are many stages that lead to mental illness. 

But it all depends on the degree. Is there anyone who is in perfect mental health?

Everyone, including me, is stressed. So how in the world can we reduce this stress? 

Our whole society is now asking this question.

In order to create a society where all citizens are happy, 

I am thinking about ways to reduce social stress and help citizens feel happier. 

Of course, it is important to build infrastructure in the city, 

create comprehensive support programs, and make financial investments, 

but the question of how to further improve the mental health of our citizens is one that must be solved.

I would like to briefly explain where our city is focusing its policies to address this challenge. 

The safety of our communities and the health of our citizens are important, 

but I believe it is even more important to ensure that you have peace of mind. 

We cannot be physically safe and mentally healthy without being protected from harm.

That means we need to reduce the harmful stress that citizens do not need to experience.

For example, people often say that if you eat seafood from Fukushima, Japan, you will be in big trouble. 

This is a matter of peace of mind. It has nothing to do with actual problems. 

When I was Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 

there was a nuclear accident in Fukushima, and the investigation was completed at that time. 

Not a single problem was found. 

The amount of radiation emitted in Fukushima was lower than not just 1 part per a hundred thousand, 

but even drastically lower than 1 part per million of the standard set by the WHO. 

So, the social anxiety factors that make it difficult for our citizens

to feel safe have to be eliminated and solutions must be based on science. 

So, you should not make yourself unhappy with unnecessary worries. 

Peace of mind comes first before safety. Our society must be honest. 

Factors that give rise to social anxiety prevent citizens from feeling safe, 

interfere with their livelihoods, and cause unnecessary stress.

Let me be clear. Of course, it is difficult to assure you that everything will be 100 percent safe, 

but an accident should not occur even with a probability of 1 in 1 million. 

Shouldn't local government leaders run their regions with that in mind?

There were rumors that we would all die from cows infected with mad cow disease. 

But did that ever happen? No. 

So now social leaders must run society based on science and reason. 

We must maintain the safety of our society within a rational social structure.

A major global event called the World Health City Forum will be held in Incheon this year. 

What are the crises now facing the international community after the pandemic? 

Aren't climate change and various infectious diseases a major threat? 

Incheon will take the lead in tackling these problems.

Many influential people from around the world, 

including the WHO Director-General, will attend the World Health City Forum. 

This means that Incheon will host an international event 

showcasing the best and brightest in the health and medical fields. 

Last September, we held an event commemorating 

the 73rd anniversary of the landing on Incheon 

and the Incheon Security Conference, where we discussed security-related issues. 

As mayor, I will do my best to ensure the safety and health of each individual in our society. 

I trust that related officials will join me in doing their best.

Today is October 4, right? 

When you add the numbers 10 and 04 for today's date, 

you get 1004, which is a homonym for the word "angel" in Korean.

If people like angels come together and care for and respect each other, 

our society will surely become even more beautiful and healthier? 

Let us all have the heart of an angel. 

Thank you again to everyone who attended today's Mental Health Day event, 

and may you always be healthy and happy. 

Thank you very much.